Vacuum-breaker and alarm.



B. W. HILL.

VACUUM BRBAKER AND ALARM.

.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1908.

91 2,243. Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

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UNTTED STATE PATENT OFFTQE.

BURTON W. HILL, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOP. OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK M. SHELDON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VACU'UJLBREAKER ANS ALARM.

Application filed June 9, 1958.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, BURTON W. --lrLr., a citizen ot tlie United States, residing at eonierville, in tlie county ot Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, bave invented an linproveinent in Vacuum Breakers and Alarms, ot wbicli tbe following' description, in connection witlil tlie accoinnanying drawinl, is a sjeci'lication, like letters on tbe drawing' representing' like parts.

lis invention relates to device tor use in the drawing' oil troni tlie bottoinot tbe contents ot a vat or other receptacle wlierein it is desired to retain tlie upner portion or top layers of tlie contents in tire tank. Suola devices are et special value in connection witli rendering' tanks wliere it is desired to draw oil tbe tlnn liquids from tlie bottoni and leave tlie 1neavy or fatty liquids wliicli are on tlie top in tbe tank. ln suoli devices it is desirable to llave tlie action ot tbe rneans, usually a puinp, tor drawing' oil tlie liquid cease when tbe desired amount ot liquid laas been drawn on; or otlier words, wben tlie l upper layers bave reaclied a certain de'linite position in tlieir downward inoveinent in tbe tank. lt is also desired t at ,inst before tlie action ot tlie drawing' on ineans ceases notice may be given ot that fact.

The present invent-ion provides a rneans by wliicli tlie vacuumnecessary in tbe pine ior drawing' f" tbe contents will be broken automatically w en tine contents liave reaclied E a predetermined level, and just prior to tlie breakingl ot tlie vacuum an alarin will be sounded.

The device is adliustable so as to be set at any beiglit or level, is siinple in its construe tion and not liable to get out ot order.

Tlie invention will more `fully appear from tlie accompanying' description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in tlie claims.

Tlie drawings represent tbe device in its preferred torni as applied to a tank suola as is used in rendering plants.

ln tbe drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross-section ot tlie rendering' tank witli tlie apparatus of this invention in Fig. 2 is a view of the portion of the tank shown in Fig. l, in cross-section, taken on tlie line a; to.

The device is useful for lnany purposes and under many conditions, but it is herein sliown as applied to tliat torni oi' a receptacle Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 437,523.

`| A used in connection witli a rendering tank l in establishments wbere renderingr is carried on. Tliese vats or tanks contain tliick layers ol' fatty liquid B 'floating upon tbe top oi a larqe quantity ot liquid C. .lt is necessary to rernove tlie liquid C and retain in the tanks tbe Yfatty portions B.

ln order to remove the liquid O a pine D enters the wall of tbe receptacle and preterably laas a downwardly entendins portion D2, wliicli in tbe torni shown is nroduced by tbe use oi' a joint D3. ik pump is connected to tbe pipe l) and by nieans of tlie pump suction is produced tberein and tbe contents ot tlie tank are @gradually drawn H. lt is obvious tliat as tlae level ot tlqe liquid in tbe tank descends the itatty nortions B will be drawn ott unless tbe action ot tbe purnn in tlie nine D is stopped. second nipe E is connected to tlae suction pipe D and entends upwardly in l@general inverted tj-shape. ln order to secure an adiustinent ot its open end it is inade in two main sections, tbe section W sliding' vertically on tle downturned end F13 of tbe' other section. A suitable stutlinqbox E4 is provided and a set-screw E5 tor locking' tbe sections in adjusted position. The lower end of tlie section l'lZ is inade bellsbaped or flaring, as sliown at E, so that wlien tbe level ot tlie liquid passes below the end even a sliq'lit distance, a very considerable area will be opened for tbe admission of I air into tbe pine. j?. valve F is nrovided by i means o't wliicli tlie second pine l?, may be closed so that all tlie contents in tbe receptacle maybe pumped oit it desired. tliird pipe G is connected to tbe section ot tbe pine E close to tlie wide rnoutli E, and tliis pipe extends upwardly to a suitable position and is provided at its end with a suitable alarin, herein sliown as a wlistle.

Tlie operation oi tl'e device will new be apparent. Tlie pine section E is adiusted on tlie section E3 until tne edge ot tl'ie flaring open inoutli E is at tlie lieiglit to wbicli it is desired tlie upper surface oi" tbe contents oi tlie vat should be lowered. Tte valve F is lett open. Suction is tlien applied by rneans of tlie puinp or other device to tbe pipe D and the lower portion oi tbe contents in tlie receptacle is steadily drawn oil` and the level of the contents gradually `falls. When the upper surface of tbe level of the contents passes tlie lower edge of tbe Haring inoutli E air at once enters in a considerable quantity into the pipe E, breaking the vacuum and the action of the pump ceases. But before the vacuum breaks and before the contents have reached the predetermined level an alarm is sounded. Because when the surface of the contents passes below the end of the pipe G air will be drawn in through the pipe G by suction in the pipes D and E and the whistle or other alarm. will be sounded. The amount of air required to operate this alarm is comparatively small and hence the vacuum in the pump or drawing off means is not broken.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described for drawing off the contents of a receptacle from the bottom thereof, comprising a suction pipe through which to draw off said contents extending into the receptacle at the bottom thereof, a second pipe connected to the suction pipe and having its open mouth in the receptacle at the level down to which the surface of the contents ist@ be lowered, a third pipe connected to the second pipe near its open mouth, and an alarm device connected to said third pipe and operated by the occurrence of suction therein resulting from the exposure of the end of said third pipe when the surface of the contents is lowered past it in the second pipe.

2. A device of the character described for drawing off the contents of a receptacle from the bottom thereof, comprising a suction pipe through which to draw off said contents extending into the receptacle at the bottom thereof, a second pipe connected to the suction pipe and having its open mouth in the receptacle at the level down to which the surface of the contents is to be lowered, means whereby the open end of the second ipe may be adjusted with respect to the hottom of the receptacle, a third pipe connected to the second pipe near its open mouth, and an alarm device connected to said third pipe and operated by the occurrence of suction therein resulting from the exposure of the end of said third pipe when the surface of the contents is lowered past it in the second pipe.

3. A device of the character described for drawing off the contents of a receptacle from the bottom thereof, comprising a suction pipe through which to draw off said contents extending into the receptacle at the bottom thereof, a second pipe connected to the suction pipe and provided with a flaring open mouth, the said mouth being' located in the receptacle at the level down to which the surface of the contents is to be lowered, a third pipe connected to the second pipe near its open mouth, and an alarm device connected to said third pipe and operated by the occurrence of suction therein resulting from the exposure of the end of said third pipe when the surface of the contents is lowered past it in the second p A device of the character described for drawing off the contents of a receptacle from the bottom thereof, comprising a suction pipe through which to draw off said contents extending into the receptacle at the bottom thereof, a second pipe connected to the suction pipe and having its open mouth in the receptacle at the level down to which the surface of the contents is to be lowered, a valve in said second pipe, a third pipe connected to the second pipe near its open mouth, and an alarm device connected to said third pipe and operated by the occurrence of suction therein resulting from the exposure of the end of said third pipe when the surface of the contents is lowered past it in the second pipe.V

5. A device of the character described for drawing off the contents of a receptacle from the bottom thereof, comprising a suction pipe through which to draw off said contents extending into theV receptacle at the bottom thereof, a second pipe connected to the suction pipe and having its open mouth in the receptacle at the level down to which the surface of the contents is to be lowered.

6. A device of the character described for drawing off the contents of a receptacle from the bottom thereof, comprising a suc-k tion pipe through which to draw off said contents extending into the receptacle at the bottom thereof, a second pipe connected to the suction pipe and having its open mouth in the receptacle at the level down to which the surface of the contents is to be lowered, means whereby the open end of the second Apipe may be adjusted with respect to the bottom of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BURTON W. HILL. 

